OTW facility to house popular shore restaurant McCloone's restaurant to open at off-track wagering facility in Fords BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - After a year of scoping out their possibilities, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has found a vendor for its restaurant, which will be inside their state-of-the-art off-track wagering facility in Fords. However, the reviewing process may take up to three to four months before the NJSEA can reap the fruits of their labor. The NJSEA has entered into an agreement with Tim McLoone, who is the owner of McLoone's Riverside in Sea Bright and McLoone's Pier House in Long Branch, both in Monmouth County, to operate a food and beverage service called McLoone's Favorites at their OTW facility at 3 Lafayette Road, which is expected to open in late August. "After I review the transfer application, I release it to the township police department," said Township Municipal Clerk John Mitch. The police department will do both a financial and criminal background application check [on McCloone] and the local state Federal Bureau of Investigation will do fingerprint checks, said Mitch. "The police department will give us their final recommendation to approve or disapprove [the liquor license transfer from the family ownership - JRC Associates - of The Club at Woodbridge, which no longer uses their license]," he said. Peter DeSimone, NJSEA's director of off-track wagering services, said the NJSEA is extremely excited with their partnership with Tim McCloone. "His [Tim McLoone] facilities are top notch, which exceed our food and beverage expectations," he said. "We have visited both his establishments and he has done a nice job." Since April 2006, the NJSEA has canvassed vendors from various major chains including T.G.I. Friday, Chili's Grill & Bar, and Houlihan restaurants. "We were down to two vendors and McCloones came out on top," said DeSimone. "They came in and provided us with a presentation." Council President Brenda Yori Velasco asked the township clerk on April 24 to schedule a special public hearing on the transfer liquor license. "At this point the hearing has not been scheduled yet, but will be held before the disposition of the license," said Mitch. Mitch said it has not been determined if the township would want representatives of NJSEA to be present at the public hearing. The NJSEA is spending $6 million to turn the old A&P store at the intersection of Fords Avenue and Lafayette Road into a state-of-the-art off-track wagering facility. The NJSEA presented their proposal of the OTW - among boos, cheers and some toting signs that read "Just Say No to OTW in Fords" from the audience of approximately 300 residents - to the New Jersey Racing Commission [NJRC] at a public hearing, which was held to comply with the provisions of the state Off-Track and Account Wagering Act, on Aug. 24, 2006, at the Hilton Hotel in Iselin. Resident Carole Mayti presented NJRC officials at the public hearing with over 1,100 signatures and 450 letters opposing the plans. Dennis Dowd, NJSEA's senior vice president of off-track wagering, said the OTW facility would benefit Woodbridge by providing a long-term tenant to ensure tax revenues. "It would also increase business for other tenants at the center by creating 50-85 full-time and part-time jobs, and 200 construction-related jobs," he said. The commission voted 4 to 0 in favor of the OTW on Sept. 26, 2006, and later the state attorney general's office signed off approving the commission's decision in early October 2006. Residents expressed disappointment with an OTW coming into Fords and with the council's passing of a resolution in favor of the facility, which was later overturned after a public outcry against the facility. The council passed a resolution June 20, 2006, in support of the OTW facility. The 2001 state statute gives municipal governing bodies 45 days to reply after receipt of NJSEA's notice of intention. A town may disapprove of a proposed OTW facility within a 45-day period, by adopting a resolution that will be binding on the authority and the commission as soon as the entities receive it. The council received the authority's notice May 12. The Woodbridge Planning Board voted 6-1 in favor of the proposal at the June 28, 2006, board meeting. NJSEA appeared before the board to achieve compliance with the provisions of the municipal Planning Board requirements. The board's June 28 resolution was sent to the authority on July 5. But council members withdrew their support for the venture at the Aug. 1 council meeting, which came after the June 26 deadline . The council's decision came after the meeting with more than 75 residents on July 20, 2006. The meeting was organized by residents Yazmin Chas and Carole Mayti. The residents expressed concerns about traffic, the close proximity to homes and schools, and possible problems with compulsive gamblers. Ward 2 Councilman Richard A. Dalina sent a letter to the NJSEA on July 14 asking them to reconsider another location because residents opposed the project. In the council's Aug. 1 resolution, the council urged the authority to "join the council with a commonality of purpose and withdraw its consideration of the Fords location as the proposed OTW facility in the best interest of the community and to consider possible alternative sites." However, the authority decided not to withdraw its proposal. "The authority explained it had devoted much work and made many concessions prior to the issuance of that resolution [Aug. 1], and further believed that the Fords location was the appropriate site for the facility," the NJRC report said.